Russian omen augures well for Spain

Spain won a crucial game against Russia to reach the semis in their last finals appearance 16 years ago and are hoping for a repeat when they bring Group C to a close in Norrkoping.

Head-to-head record• This is the seventh meeting of these nations. Spain have won four with one loss and one draw, scoring nine goals to Russia's six.

• Long-serving Spain coach Ignacio Quereda first took on Russia in two friendlies in Varna in April 1995, drawing 0-0 and winning 4-2.

• Two years later came the sides' most important match, at the 1997 finals in Sweden. Meeting like now in their last group game, Russia were out after two losses but Spain were within three points of France. Les Bleues lost 3-0 to Sweden, meaning Spain's 1-0 victory in Karlskoga – with Ángeles Parejo scoring the goal – took them into the semi-finals on goal difference.

• Russia and Spain met again in 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying. On 28 October 2001 Russia won 2-0 in Selyatino but lost the return 2-1 in Molina De Segura the following April, Elisabeth Ibarra coming off the bench.

• Russia nevertheless topped the group to qualify while Spain lost 3-0 in Italy and were eliminated.

• While on a training camp in Spain these sides met for a friendly and Spain triumphed with a late goal despite Sonia's early injury.

Form guide• On 24 November 2011 Spain came back from two down with goals from Verónica Boquete and Willy to hold Germany 2-2 in Motril. That ended Germany's run of 38 straight Women's EURO, and 36 consecutive qualifying, wins dating back to November 1999.

• Then on 5 April 2012, María Paz scored seven times in a 13-0 defeat of Kazakhstan in Madrid, the most goals scored by an individual in a Women's EURO game.

• However that came a few days after a 5-0 loss in Germany and a subsequent 4-3 defeat in Switzerland meant Spain had to settle for a play-off.

• They drew the first leg with Scotland 1-1 at Hampden Park, Adriana equalising but missing a penalty, and had to come from behind in the Madrid return to force extra time. There they fell behind on 98 minutes and although Silvia Meseguer levelled on 113 minutes Spain remained behind on away goals. When Boquete had a 119th-minute penalty saved it seemed all over but deep in added time she found the target for a dramatic victory.

• Spain's only previous qualification was in 1997, when they reached the semi-finals. However, their Women's U17s (2010 and 2011) and U19s (2004) teams have both won European titles and this is the only UEFA national-team competition (including men, women, youth and futsal) that Spain have never won.

• Russia were forced into a play-off for the third Women's EURO qualifying running after two group losses to Italy. As in 2009 they came through, beating Austria 2-0 away and drawing 1-1 at home.

• While Russia have gone out in the EURO group stage at all three attempts (1997, 2001 and 2009) in their two World Cup appearances (1999 and 2003) they made it to the quarter-finals.

• In 2009/10 Rossiyanka won the only encounter between Russian and Spanish clubs in UEFA women's competition, beating Rayo Vallecano de Madrid 3-1 away and 2-1 at home. Petrova and Adriana both scored in the first leg and Danilova struck in the return.